Bundy Trial: Government Missteps Could Jeopardize Case

LAS VEGAS, NV - The case against Cliven Bundy and three other main defendants in the 2014 Bunkerville standoff trial may have been jeopardized by missteps from the prosecution, court developments revealed on Monday.

Bundy and his two sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, and Ryan Payne are facing charges in federal court for their role in the standoff. On Monday, Judge Gloria Navarro floated the idea that the government's failure to provide information to the defense by a deadline could result in a mistrial.

Tay Wiles of High Country News reported on Monday that Navarro said the government failed to provide a threat assessment, reports about a surveillance camera, and a report that the Bureau of Land Management ignores suggestions from the FBI.

If that proves true the case could result in a mistrial. The trial has been delayed until Dec. 20 to give the defense time to respond to the alleged failure to meet necessary deadlines.

David Ferrara of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Monday that Cliven Bundy's attorney Brett Whipple and Ammon Bundy's attorney Daniel Hill are optimistic that the trial will be dismissed before jurors return on Dec. 20.

Wiles and Ferrara have both been covering the trial extensively. For a more in depth look into the Bunkverville standoff case, follow them on Twitter.

• Tay Wiles: @taywiles
• David Ferrara: @randompoker

Image: Supporter David Fleeman hangs a flag outside of the federal courthouse, Monday, Oct. 30, 2017, in Las Vegas. Jury selection is set to begin in Las Vegas for the long-awaited trial of Nevada cattleman and states' rights figure Cliven Bundy, two sons and one other co-defendant on charges stemming from an armed standoff with federal agents in April 2014. (John Locher/Associated Press)